Download File

Akhenaten the Heretic Pharaoh
As a young child Akhenaten was raised in a traditional Ancient Egyptian manner and observed
religious rituals to the god Amon. Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in many
gods. In Thebes, Amon was the god that was elevated to the highest position above the other gods.
One of the lower gods, Aten, was believed to be the sun god. Tuthmosis IV took this god with him into
battle for power and protection.
In time, Akhenaten turned his focus and beliefs from the highest god Amon, to Aten. He began
to worship Aten as the highest, and eventually only god. He discarded all other gods, as a result he
focused all of his attention and religious following to the sun god. While he made his religious shift, he
also experienced a shift of power when he became the pharaoh of Egypt. Soon after becoming pharaoh
of Egypt, Akhenaten discarded his royal name and loyalty to Amon completely.
As pharaoh, he turned away from old priests who worshipped the previous gods and facilitated
older religious rituals. He began the cult of the sun disk -- the Aten. Akhenaten acknowledged that
Aten was the single god. In this acknowledgement he made his religion monotheistic, a shift from the
previous polytheistic religion. He also claimed he was the only person able to converse with his god.
This only caused an absence of priests, who did not share his beliefs, and he soon came to ban those
who remained. He banned the worship of Amon and closed down sacred temples. The only religion
permitted in Egypt was the monotheistic following of Aten.
Akhenaten’s wife, whose name was originally Nefertiti, was renamed “Nefer Nefru Aten”
meaning “Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten.” The couple eventually moved out of Thebes, the capital of
Egypt when Akhenaten became pharaoh, to a new capital called Akhetaton. Everyone from the old
capital moved to the new constructed capital, including the court and artisans. They remained there,
worshipping Aten as their sole god, until the end of Akhenaten’s rule.
The Pharaoh Khufu
The Pharaoh Khufu ruled in the 4th Dynasty (2551-2528 B.C.E.) He was the second Pharaoh of
the period and he ruled for approximately 23 years. It was assumed that this was a highly structured
society and he must have attained great wealth. Not much is known about the Pharaoh’s personal life
or his accomplishments. His most known and famous undertaking was the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
There are two theories surrounding the construction of his pyramid. The first theory, given by
ancient Egyptian experts, suggests that slaves were forced under daily hard labor to work until the
task was completed. The more logical and more supported theory, however, suggests that the Great
Pyramid of Egypt was built by hundreds of skilled workers who camped near the pyramids and
worked for a salary until the construction of the pyramid was completed. Archaeologists agree on the
purpose of the pyramid, however. Like other pyramids built by the Egyptians, the intention of the
Great Pyramid was to serve as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu.
Although he organized the construction of the pyramid, not much is known about his life due
to the fact that his tomb was robbed. After his death, archaeologists believe Khufu was mummified
and placed inside the pyramid. Yet, no remains of the mummy have ever been found and there is only
an empty sarcophagus that lies in the center of the King’s Chamber located inside the pyramid.
A statue was found in the temple of Abydos and it is thought that maybe this might give a slight
insight into the Pharaoh’s world and who he really was. Historians and archaeologists have had to
piece together other finds to learn about the pharaoh who organized the building of the Great
Pyramid, which is still a famous landmark today, thousands of years later.
Ahmose I
Ahmose I was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh who began the eighteenth dynasty. He was born a
member of the Theban royal family and ascended the throne when his brother died after reigning for
three years. He was only ten when he took the throne and gained the title "Neb-Pehty-Re," or "the
lord of strength is Re." It is estimated that he took the throne in 1550 BCE and ruled for twenty-five
years.
Beginning during Ahmose I father's reign, and lasting throughout the entirety of his brother's
term of power, the Theban kings were at war with Hyksos, a group that had gained power in the Nile
Delta. Due to Ahmose I being only ten when he took power, his mother reigned as regent until he
came of age. It was during this time she consolidated Thebes' power.
After Ahmose I took power, he went on the defensive, fortifying borders and cutting off the
Hyksos capital Avaris from other strongholds. Though it took four attempts, Ahmose I led forces to
eventually conquer the city. He completed his victory over the Hyksos over a three-year siege of
Sharuhen. This was completed by the 19th year of his reign.
By defeating the Hyksos, Ahmose I set the stage for the rise of the New Kingdom where Egypt
reached the peak of its power. After the reunification, Ahmose I decided to make Thebes the capital of
Egypt for multiple reasons. It had served as the capital during the Middle Kingdom; therefore, it had
historical value. Being from the Theban royal family also influenced his choice. A third, and often over
looked reason, is simply the location of the city. It was located near the middle of the kingdom,
providing easy access to both the northern and southern frontiers. This was important because of the
threat of the Hyksos returning from the north and the Nubians located to the south.
At the end of his reign, his pyramid was built in what is present day Abydos. It is the last
pyramid that was built as a mortuary complex. It was rediscovered during the end of the 19th century
and has provided information about his reign. Carvings found there depict a great battle against the
Hyksos and show them on horseback. This is the earliest known depiction of horses in Egypt. There
are multiple other temples in the area; one dedicated to his queen and one dedicated to his
grandmother.
Ahmose I is one of the great pharaohs who reunited Egypt and restored the ways of the Old
Kingdom. His accomplishments are important aspects of Ancient Egyptian history as he brought
Egyptian culture to a high that rivaled that of the Old Kingdom.